| Title | The characterisation of structure: definition versus axiomatisation index of names |
|---|---|
| Published in | The Philosophy of Science in a European Perspective, Vol. 1, p.399-416. |
| Author | Muller, F.A. |
| Date | 2010 |
| Language | English |
| Type | article |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Abstract | Crucial to structural realism is the Central Claim that entity B is or has structure S. We argue that neither the set-theoretical nor the category-theoretical conceptions of structure clarify the Claim in a way that serves the needs of structural realism. One of these needs is to have a viable account of reference, which almost any variety of realism needs. There is also a view of structure that can adopt both set-theoretical and category-theoretical conceptions of structure; this is the view that adopts B.C. van Fraassen’s extension of Nelson Goodman’s concept of representation-as from art to science. Yet the ensuing fountain of perspectives is a move away from realism, structural realism included. We then suggest that a new theory of structure is needed, one that takes the word ‘structure’ to express a primitive fundamental concept; the concept of structure should be axiomatised rather than defined in terms of other concepts. We sketch how such a theory can clarify the Central Claim in a manner that serves a descriptivist account of reference, and thereby structural realism. |
| Publication | http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/phys/2011-0301-200642/UU... |
| OpenURL | Search this publication in (your) library |
| Persistent Identifier | URN:NBN:NL:UI:10-1874-202128 |
| Metadata | XML |
| Repository | Utrecht University |
Go to page top
Go back to contents
Go back to site navigation